Foldable vehicle top



Dec. 2, 1941- F. J. WESTROPE FOLDABLE VEHICLE TOP Filed y 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 finnentor Fea er/cf cf was 790 Qttomeg Dec. 2, 1941. J WESTRQPE 2,264,602

FOL'DABLE VEHICLE TOP Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwentor fiea er/a Mes/r906 A 6' O a /g, y/

/ (Ittomegs Patented Dec. 2, 1941 i This invention relates generally to motor' vehicles, and more particularly to foldable tops therefor. o, V v V It is anobiectof thefpresent invention toprovide;a new and improved foldable top structure formotor vehicles and one which is easily raised orloweredhur I Another obiectof the, invention is toprovide for motor vehicles a new and improved foldable top which will not rattle in either its raised or lowered positions.

A further objectof the invention resides in the lever .andlink .structure ofthe top which provides for a smooth .orsteady action in the raisingorlowering ofthe top. I

Other objectspf the invention will become apparent-from .the following detailed description taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is ...a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view ofamotor vehicle body showing one ,sideof the top structure with the parts thereof ,in.,the ;positions they assume when the top is in raised position; v ,-.(Eig. ,2-is;a. view of; the vehicle body similar to Fig. ,1 but. showing thetop in its lowered position; Fig. 3 is a .fragmentary cross sectional view of the body, taken ,along the line and in the direction-of. the arrows 3 -3 of Fig.1;

Fig; 4, is. a sectional view of certain details of thewstructure, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1; and r Fig. 5 is a cross Samaria View; taken along the e 1: f ia, c .-;:;I.n the d awin s onl qneas d f he motor e rhicle bodyaand o e-s d of h f l b e p s tureiis illustrated butit is to, be understood that thislstructureis duplicated fprthe other side of .the body and for the other side of the top structure; 3.1 ..Z:. w

Referrin to the drawings by characters of reference, the, motor.:vehicle ,body illustrated ineludes. a fiooryloand at eachside f the body intermediate pillars ll and rear pilla-rs [2 ex- .ztendupwardiy from the floor [0, the intermediateand -,-rear .-,pillars of, each side of the body preferably being: joined together and reenforced ,by LlongitudinaLframe members 13 which are rigidly secured to the pillars intermediate their 4 .upper andlower ends. Thepillarsll and I2 as .welleas the front :pillars. (not,shown') :are enclosed.by...the*usual;externalpanels: l4 and internal panels l5, asillustrated in Fig.,3. U

:Rigidly secured :-.to .each: of thetintermediate; 1

pillars H is a rearwardly extending bracket I6 to each of which aleverl 8 ispivoted by a, pin l T, the levers L8 each carryingan extension member l9..which in the raised position of. the topextend. upwardly respectively fromthe intermediate pillars l l.. .Alsopivoted toeach of the brackets. 16,;are rearwardlyextending top frame members 20, which are connected together by arear cross bow 21 to which the top covering, asat 22, tacked or .attached in .any. suitable manner. An intermediatebow 23. is carried by.and. pivoted to the frame. members 20. to which bow the top covering 22 is, also attached, and. in the raised position of the top, as shown in Fig. 1, the bow- 23 extends upwardly andslightly forwardly from its pivot connectionswiththeframe members20, the-bow 23 being pivoted to the members by pins'24 or by other suitable means Each of the pillar extension members l9.is provided with-an extended portion 25 adjacent the upper end thereof, which portions are provided with sockets 26 which, in the raised position of the top, face forwardly and respectively receive end bearing portions 21 of longitudinally extending, side frame members-28. The frame members 28 are rigidly secured together at their forward ends by a-cross member 29 which, in the raised-position of thetop, seats on and is rigidly secured to a bracket 30 which is rigidly secured to the-wind-shield header member 3!, the means for rigidly securing the top cross member 29 to the bracket 30 being any suitable releasable 'attaching means. Respectively secured to each of the top frame members 28, intermediate the ends thereof, there is a bracket 32 to which forward ends respectively of link members 33 are pivotally connected, such as by pins 34, the rearwardly disposed ends of the links 33 being pivotally connected by pins 35 respectively to the upper ends 36 of the pillar extension l9, which upper ends 36 project above the sockets 26, as shown in Fig. :1. The pillarextensions l9 carry and are connected together by a cross bow 3! which may be termed the forward bow .and to which the top covering 22 is tacked or otherwise suitably attached. The top covering 22 is attached to the forward cross member 29 and, of course, is also attached 'to the body toward the rear thereof. g I

v Rigidly secured to each of the pillar extensions 19 therer is a rearwardly extending ibracket 40 and pivoted to each of the, brackets 40, such-as by pins 4|, there is a lever 42, these levers 42 being pivoted intermediate their ends providing, as shown in Fig. 1 or in the raised position of thetop. an upwa dly ex end n arm, a a

lower and rearwardly extending lever arm 44.

The upper ends of the lever arms 43 are respectively and pivotally connected, such as by pins 45, to the ends 21 of the frame members 28. Pivoted respectively to each of the body frame members l3, such as by pivot pins 46, there is a lever 41, which lever is provided with a forwardly extending bent end portion 48. The latter is pivotally connected by a link 49 to the pivot pin 4| of the bracket 40, which pivot pin 4| also serves as a fulcrum for a lever 42, this structure being duplicated on opposite sides of the vehicle.

Intermediate the ends of the levers 41, links 5| have their corresponding ends respectively and pivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 52, the.

other ends of the links 5| being ,pivotally connected respectively to the corresponding ends of the lever arms 44, such as by pivot pins 53. It

will thus be seen that the links 5| respectively interconnect the levers 42 and 41 and that the links 49 respectively interconnect the levers 41- and the pillar extension members I8.

Pivotally connected by pins 55 respectively to and intermediate the ends of the links 5| are the upper ends of tubular members 56, the lower ends of which carry respectively internally threaded insert members or screws 51 for respectively receiving threaded rotatable shafts 58 which are rotated in one direction to raise the top and are rotated in the opposite direction to lower the top. The lower endsof the shafts 58 extend into gear housings 59 which are pivoted to brackets 60 rigidly secured to the body floor H], the casings 59 being arranged to pivot so as to permit swinging movement of the shafts 58 necessary in the raising and lowering of the top frame structure. The shafts 58 may be driven by a suitable electric motor 6| which may be rigidly secured by a bracket 62 intermediate the casings 59 to a cross member support 63. From opposite sides of the motor 6| extend driven shafts 64 which are provided with worm gears 65 in mesh with worm wheels (not shown) in the casings 59. The shafts 64 are arranged to cant so as to maintain driving connections between the motor BI and the gears in the housing 59 during the swinging movements of the drive shafts 58. Th above described connections between the motor 6| and the gears and casing 59 are not shown in detail since they are not the subject matter of the present invention, but-for a more detailed description of such connections reference may be had-to my co-pending application, Serial No. 328,720, filed April 9, 1940; As shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, the threaded insert member 51 may be multi-sidedor hexagonal to fit into a correspondingly shaped end portion 65 of th tube 56 to prevent rotation of the member 51 relative to the tube 56. It will be noted that the upper ends of the tubes 56 are pivoted at 55 to the links 5| intermediate the pivot pins 56 and 52 which respectively connect links 49 and 5| to the levers 41. Preferably each of the levers l8 which carry the extension members I9 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 66 to which ends of helical coil springs 61 are respectively secured, the other ends of the springs 61 being anchored, as at 68, to the rear body pillars |2. These springs 61 are arranged to be placed under tension as the top is lowered which. steadies the lowering motion of the top, the springs also acting to aid the motor 6| during the operation of raising the top.

Operation The motor 6| is ofthe reversible type and untheir respective pivot pins 4|.

der the control of the operator may be started to drive shafts 64 in directions to either raise or lower the top structure. In lowering the top, the shafts 64, through worm gears 65 meshed with worm wheels in the casings 59, rotate the shafts 58 in directions which cause the tubes 56 to be drawn downwardly. As the tubes 56 are drawn downwardly, links 5| are drawn downwardly therewith, swinging the lever 41 counterclockwise around their pivots 46 and also swinging the links 49 in a clockwise direction about Since the links 5| are connected by the pivot pins 53 to the levers 42, the levers 42 are pivoted in a clockwise direction and at the same time levers l8 and extensions l9 carried thereby are swung in a clockwise direction about their respective pivot pins |1. When the extensions |9 swing rearwardly, the sockets 26 thereof disengage from the frame member ends 21 and the frame members 28 pivot about the pivot pins 34 in counterclockwise directions. The tubes 56 continuing in their downward movement move the pivot pins in clockwise directions about the pivot pins 4| which at the same time are being swung also in clockwise directions about the pivot point l1 resulting in pivots .55 moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. With all of the levers and links moving in the directions above. described the rear bow first comes to rest in its lowered position after which the intermediate bow 23 carried thereby folds or swings down against the rear bow, and th link and lever structure carried by the, extension members I9 swings about the various pivots until the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 when the top is completely lowered. During the lowering operation of the top it will be seen that the drive shaft 58 and the tubes 56 swing slightlyabout the pivots of the gear casings .59 in a clockwise direction to permit the various' link and lever movements to take' place unresisted. In raising the top, the movements of the various levers and connecting links is, of course, the reverse from that of lowering of'the top. When raising the top, motor 6| is operated in the reverse direction which causes the tubes 56 to bemoved upwardly. When the tubes 56' move upwardly link 5| are moved upwardly which action'causes levers 41 to pivot in clockwise directions about the pivots 46 and causes levers 42 to pivot in counterclockwise directions about the pivots 4|.

' Also the upward movement of the links 5| acting through the links 49 and through the levers 42 swings the pillar extensions |9 upwardly and forwardly in counterclockwise directions, the levers 42 being carriedthereby and moving to ultimately position the ends of the frame members 21 in the sockets 26 of the extensions |9 just prior to completion of the top raising action. As the various levers :and links move in the raising of the top, the top covering 22 is drawn forward and, when th forward bow 31 approaches its raised position, the top covering is tightened, moving the bows 2| and 23' to the positions shown in Fig. l in which positions the bows 2| and 23 are held solely by the top covering 22. During the raising operation of. the top the springs61, which were previouslyfurther tensioned by the lowering action of the top, nowaid to raise the top.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail it is to be understood that the same is to be limited only by the appended claims for many changes may be made without departing from. the spirit and scope of. the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a pair of extension members respectively for aid pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrumed on said body, means interconnecting respectively said first pair of levers and said second pair of levers, and means respectively connecting said second pair of levers to the fulcrums of said first pair of levers on said pair of extension members.

2. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a pair of extension members respectively for said pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said extension members, a second pair of spaced. levers havin their rearward ends fulcrumed on said body, a pair of links respectively connecting said first pair of levers to pivots intermediate the ends of said second pair of levers, and means pivotally connecting said extension members to the forward ends of said second pair of levers.

3. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright intermediate side pillars, a pair of extension members respectively for the pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof respectively on said extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrumed on the body rearwardly of the fulcrum of said first pair of levers, a first pair of links respectively connecting said extension members to a first pair of pivots on said second pair of levers, and a second pair of links respectively connecting said first pair of levers to a second pair of pivots on said second pair of levers spaced away from said first pair of pivots.

4. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a pair of extension members respectively for said pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said pillar extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrumed on said body, a first pair of links respectively connecting said second pair of levers to said extension members, an outrigger structure pivotally mounted on corresponding ends of said first pair of levers, a second pair of links connecting the other ends of said first pair of levers to said second pair of levers at a different distance from the fulcrums thereof than said first pair of links, and a third pair of links connecting said outrigger structure to said pillar extension members.

5. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a pair of extension members respectively for said pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said pillar extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrumed on said body, a first pair of links respectively connecting said second pair of levers to said extension members, an outrigger structure pivotally mounted on corresponding ends of said first pair of levers, a second pair of links connecting the other ends of said first pair of levers to said second pair of levers at a different distance from the fulcrums thereof than said first pair of links, and a third pair of links connecting said outrigger structure to said pillar extension members, said pillar extension members having sockets for releasably receiving the rearward portions of said outrigger structure.

6. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a pair of extension members respectively for said pillars, and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said pillar extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrurned on said body, a first pair of links respectively connecting said second pair of levers to said extension members, an outrigger structure pivotally mounted on corresponding ends of said first pair of levers, a second pair of links connecting the other ends of said first pair of levers to said second pair of levers at a different distance from the fulcrums thereof than said first pair of links, and a third pair of links connecting said outrigger structure to said pillar extension members, the adjacent ends of said first and second pair of levers being bent approximately parallel to each other in one position of said top structure.

7. In a foldable top structure for a vehicle body having a pair of upright pillars respectively positioned at opposite sides thereof, a. pair of extension members respectively for said pillars and pivoted to swing rearwardly upon lowering of the top, a first pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof on said pillar extension members, a second pair of spaced levers fulcrumed on said body, a first pair of links respectively connecting said second pair of levers to said extension members, an outrigger structure pivotally mounted on corresponding ends of said first pair of levers, a second pair of links connecting the other ends of said first pair of levers to said second pair of levers at a different distance from the fulcrums thereof than said first pair of links, and a third pair of links connecting said outrigger structure to said pillar ex tension members, the adjacent ends of said first and second pair of levers being bent approximately parallel to each other in one position of said top structure, and said first and second pair of links being disposed approximately parallel to each other whereby said bent ends of said levers and said links approximately define parallelograms.

FREDERICK J. WESTROPE. 

